Horizontal straight-line duplex imaging architecture

ABSTRACT

An imaging architecture and method for duplex printing including a first imaging station operative to mark a first side of a substrate media with a first image, a first media transport module configured and operative to convey the substrate media in proximity with the first imaging station in a process direction along which the substrate media passes through the imaging architecture, and to invert the orientation of the substrate media without interrupting the conveyance of the substrate media in the process direction. A second imaging station is operative to mark the inverted substrate medium on a second side opposing the first side with a second image, and a second media transport module is configured and operative to convey the inverted substrate media in proximity with the second imaging station in the process direction.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates document creation. More specifically, the present disclosure is directed to an improved system and method for printing on both sides of a sheet medium.

2. Brief Discussion of Related Art

In a printer it is often desirable to print text, images, or the like, on both sides of a substrate medium (e.g., paper, vellum, etc.), known in the art as “duplex” printing. Current state of the art in duplexing technology involves printing on one side of the medium, for example a cut sheet medium, and diverting medium having already been printed on one side, away from the process path and feeding the medium into a blind spur off the process path. In the blind spur, the cut sheet is stopped, and then reversed in direction to be fed back into the process path in a reversed orientation, e.g., what was the trailing edge now being the leading edge, and vice-versa, and the orientation of the flat sheet sides of the cut sheet medium is reversed as well. The cut sheet medium is thereby inverted by the diversion process.

This technique has drawbacks. Among these, the inverter spur off the process path occupies space in the unit which is only occasionally and optionally used. The reversal of direction of the cut sheet medium requires a re-registration of the medium in the process path for acceptable image quality. The reversal process also interrupts the flow of media through the process path as a whole, and therefore reduces print cycle time (e.g., pages per minute, PPM). The current state of the art in duplex direct marking print technology is therefore wanting.

SUMMARY

In order to overcome these and other drawbacks in the present state of the art, provided according to the present disclosure is an imaging architecture comprising a first imaging station operative to mark a substrate media with a first image, a first media transport module configured and operative to convey the substrate media in proximity with the first imaging station in a process direction along which the substrate media passes through the imaging architecture, and to invert the orientation of the substrate media without interrupting the conveyance of the substrate media in the process direction. A second imaging station is operative to mark the inverted substrate media with a second image, and a second media transport module is configured and operative to convey the inverted substrate media in proximity with the second imaging station in the process direction.

In further embodiments, the first media transport module is configured and operative to invert the substrate media around an axis transverse to the process direction. The second media transport module may also be configured and operative to invert the orientation of the substrate media without interrupting the conveyance of the substrate media in the process direction, in particular around an axis transverse to the process direction.

The first or second imaging stations may comprise a direct marking technology to mark the substrate media with a respective first or second image. The first or second imaging station may comprise a plurality of imaging engines, each of the plurality of imaging engines configured and operative to mark the substrate media according to a predetermined characteristic.

In certain embodiments, the first media transport module is configured and operative to apply a hold down force sufficient to hold the substrate media against the first media transport module, and to release the inverted substrate media at a predetermined position of the substrate media. The first media transport module may be configured and operative to effect a localized interruption of the hold down force to release the inverted substrate media. Alternately or additionally, a barrier may be provided near or against the first media transport module, operative to separate the substrate media from the first media transport module. The barrier may have a knife edge positioned to come between the substrate media and the first media transport module. Alternately or additionally, a fluid nozzle configured and operative to direct a flow of fluid towards the first media transport module sufficient to separate the substrate media from the first media transport module is provided.

In a further embodiment, at least one image treatment station is positioned downstream in the process path from the first or second imaging station. The image treatment station is operative to apply a treatment to the substrate media to affix the first or second image thereto.

Also provided by the present disclosure is a method of duplex printing including conveying, with a first media transport module, a substrate media through an imaging architecture in a process direction along which the substrate media passes through the imaging architecture, in proximity with a first imaging station operative to mark the substrate media with a first image. The orientation of the substrate media is inverted without interrupting the conveyance of the substrate media in the process direction, the inverted substrate media conveyed in proximity with a second imaging station operative to mark the substrate media with a second image. Inverting the orientation of the substrate media may be performed around an axis substantially transverse to the process direction.

The substrate media may be held to the first media transport module, for example by one or more of a vacuum force and an electrostatic force. The inverted substrate media is released from the first media transport module, for example by interrupting a force holding the substrate media to the first media transport module at a predetermined position of the substrate media, and conveyed to a second media transport module for conveyance in proximity with the second imaging station. Alternately or additionally, releasing the substrate media from the first media transport module includes a physical barrier imposed between the substrate media and the first media transport, the physical barrier optionally having a substantially knife edge presented at the interface of the substrate media and the first media transport module.

The presently disclosed method optionally includes inverting the inverted substrate media following its transport in proximity with the second imaging station, in some cases without interrupting the conveyance of the substrate media in the process direction, and in some cases around an axis substantially transverse to the process direction.

These and other purposes, goals and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the following detailed description of example embodiments read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a duplex architecture according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, showing a substrate media in a preliminary position along the process path; and

FIG. 2 illustrate the exemplary duplex architecture according to the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing the substrate media in an intermediate position along the process path.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Introduction

As used herein, a “printer” refers to any device, machine, apparatus, and the like, for forming images on substrate media using ink, toner, and the like. A “printer” can encompass any apparatus, such as a copier, bookmaking machine, facsimile machine, multi-function machine, etc., which performs a print outputting function for any purpose. Where a monochrome printer is described, it will be appreciated that the disclosure can encompass a printing system that uses more than one color (e.g., red, blue, green, black, cyan, magenta, yellow, clear, etc.) ink or toner to form a multiple-color image on a substrate media.

As used herein, “substrate media” refers to a tangible medium, such as paper (e.g., a sheet of paper, a long web of paper, a ream of paper, etc.), vellum, transparencies, parchment, film, fabric, plastic, paperboard or other substrates on which an image can be printed or disposed.

As used herein “process path” refers to a path traversed by a unit of substrate media through a printer to be printed upon by the printer on one or both sides of the substrate media. A unit of substrate media moving along the process path from away from its beginning and towards its end will be said to be moving in the “process direction”.

As used herein, “straight line” refers to the substrate media traveling along a process path in a process direction away from the beginning of the process path and towards the end of the process path without stoppage, and/or more particularly, reversal. “Straight line” does not imply or require that the process path or the substrate media traversing it is precluded from rotation or translation in three-dimensional space.

Description

Referring now to FIG. 1, illustrated schematically is a straight-line duplex imaging architecture, generally 10, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. A substrate media 12 to be printed upon, in the exemplary embodiment only a cut sheet of paper, is introduced into a process path 14 and transported to a first imaging station 16. In the exemplary embodiment the imaging station is a direct marking imaging station and uses the influence of gravity to carry a marking ink from the imaging station to the substrate media 12. The first imaging station 16 may include a plurality of imaging engines 16 a, 16 b, 16 c, etc. For example, but without limitation, each of the plural imaging engines 16 a, 16 b, 16 c may be configured to mark the first side 12 a of the substrate media 12 according to a predetermined characteristic, including without limitation a particular type or color ink.

In some cases, it may be advantageous to accelerate a drying or curing process of the first image marked on the first side 12 a of the substrate media 12. In that case a first image fixing station 18 may optionally be provided downstream in the process path 14 from the first imaging station 16. In the case where the ink used to fix an image on the first side 12 a of the substrate media 12 is fixed by drying, the first fixing station 18 may comprise a heat source and/or an airflow source directed at the image-marked first side 12 a of the substrate media 12. Alternately or additionally, the marking technology of the first imaging station 16 may include an ink that responds to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, in which case the first fixing station 18 may comprise a UV source, which exposes the first side 12 a of the substrate media 12 to the UV radiation.

The imaging architecture 10 further comprises a first media transport module 20, comprising an endless belt 22 routed over at least two drum rollers 24, 26. Either or both of drum rollers 24, 26 may be driven by a motor (not shown) to move the belt 22. A non-driven roller among the two 24, 26 is an idler roller. The substrate media 12 is carried by the belt 22 past the first imaging station 16, where an image is marked on a first side 12 a of the substrate media 12. Further, the first media transport module is operative to hold the substrate media 12 against the belt 22, for example by vacuum pressure as is known in the art, but alternately or additionally by electrostatic force, also in conventional fashion. The first media transport module 20, and particularly the endless belt 22, holds and/or carries the substrate media 12 as the belt travels around roller 26, thereby inverting the substrate media 12 with respect to an axis transverse to the process direction.

In the depicted embodiment, the substrate media 12 is inverted by turning it over the drum roller 26 with the endless belt 22, i.e., around an axis transverse to the process path 14. It is contemplated in an alternate embodiment that the substrate media 12 is inverted by turning it with respect to an axis aligned or substantially parallel with the direction of the process path 14.

The substrate media 12 is released from the first media transport module 20, in this particular embodiment at or about an underside 28 of the roller 24, and delivered towards a second imaging station 30. The substrate media 12 may be released from the first media transport module by a physical barrier 52, in particular one with a knife edge 54 or the like, which may be imposed near or against the surface of the endless belt 22. Configured at or near the interface of the endless belt 22 and the substrate media 12, the barrier 52 prevents a substrate media 12 from continuing beyond a desired point where the barrier 52 is located which remaining engaged with the endless belt 22.

Alternately or additionally, the substrate media is separated from the first media transport 20 by application of a specifically directed fluid flow (e.g., air) from a release nozzle 56 (FIG. 2). The flow of air from the release nozzle is set to be sufficient and operative to separate the substrate media 12 from the endless belt 22 and the first media transport module 20 against the vacuum, electrostatic or similar holding force.

Alternately or additionally, the vacuum force holding the substrate media 12 to the endless belt 22 of the first media transport module 20 may be interrupted at a predetermined point to effect the release of the substrate media 12 from the endless belt 22. Where electrostatic force is used in place of or in addition to vacuum pressure to hold the substrate media 12 to the endless belt 22 of the first media transport module 20, the electrostatic force can also be interrupted and/or discontinued at the desired release point.

Referring now to FIG. 2, illustrated is the straight-line duplex imaging architecture 10 as the substrate media 12 is delivered to a second imaging station 30. A second media transport module 40, comprising an endless belt 42 routed over at least two drum rollers 44, 46. Either or both of drum rollers 44, 46 may be driven by a motor (not shown) to move the belt 42. A non-driven roller among the two rollers 44, 46 is an idler roller. The substrate media 12 is carried by the belt 42 past the second imaging station 30, where an image is marked on a second side 12 b of the substrate media 12. Further, the second media transport module is operative to hold the substrate media 12 against the belt 42, for example by vacuum pressure as is known in the art, but alternately or additionally by electrostatic force, also known in the art.

As a result of the inversion of the substrate media by the first media transport module 20, a second side 12 b of the substrate media 12 is facing upward to receive an image at the second imaging station 30. The second imaging station 30 may include a plurality of imaging engines 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, etc. For example, but without limitation, each of the plural imaging engines 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, etc., may be configured to mark a different type or color ink on the second side 12 b of the substrate media 12.

In some cases, it may be advantageous to accelerate a drying or curing process of the first image marked on the second side 12 b of the substrate media 12. In that case a second image fixing station 32 may optionally be provided downstream in the process path 14 from the second imaging station 30. In the case where the ink used to fix an image on the second side 12 b of the substrate media 12 is fixed by drying, the second fixing station 32 may comprise a heat source and/or an airflow source directed at the image-marked second side 12 b of the substrate media 12. Alternately or additionally, the marking technology of the second imaging station 30 may include an ink that responds to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, in which case the second fixing station 32 may comprise a UV source, which exposes the second side 12 b of the substrate media 12 to the UV radiation.

Having passed through the second imaging station 30, the substrate media 12 is marked with an image on both a first side 12 a and a second side 12 b, and is considered duplexed. Beyond the second imaging station 30, the second media transport module 40, and particularly the endless belt 42, holds and/or carries the substrate media 12 as the belt travels around roller 46, thereby again inverting the substrate media 12 with respect to an axis transverse to the process direction, such that a first side 12 a of the substrate media 12 is facing upwards. The substrate media 12 is, in the depicted embodiment released from the second media transport module 40 at or about a bottom 48 of the roller 44, and transported to an end 50 of the process path 14.

Alternately, the process path 14 may be terminated beyond the second imaging station 30 without further inversion by the second media transport module 40. For example, it may be acceptable to the user to receive the duplex-printed substrate media 12 having a first side 12 a face-down, either as a matter of course or by an affirmative selection.

Still alternately, in the case that a particular instance of substrate media 12 is to be printed on a first side 12 a only, the architecture 10 may include a diverter in the process path 14 beyond the first imaging station 16. The substrate media 12 may be selectively diverted from the process path 14 to the end 50 of the process path. Such an embodiment and instance maintains the characteristic that the substrate media 12 moves in a single direction through the process path 14 without stoppage or reversal. This does, however, introduce the complexity of a diversion from a singular and unified process path 14, by creating a compound process path 14 with more than one possible unique paths.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that certain alterations or modifications of the system and methods of the present disclosure, including their features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be apparent. The same may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. The systems and methods disclosed are offered as merely exemplary of, and not liming on, the scope of the present disclosure. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

For example, the exemplary embodiment has been described with reference to a cut sheet of substrate media 12. It will be appreciated that this is an example only, and that the disclosed architecture 10 is applicable for use with a generally continuous web of substrate media 12, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 

I/We claim:
 1. An imaging architecture comprising: a first imaging station operative to mark a substrate media on a first side with a first image; a first media transport module configured and operative to convey the substrate media in proximity with the first imaging station in a process direction along which the substrate media passes through the imaging architecture, and to invert the orientation of the substrate media without interrupting the conveyance of the substrate media in the process direction; a second imaging station operative to mark a second side of the substrate media opposing the first side with a second image; a second media transport module configured and operative to convey the inverted substrate media in proximity with the second imaging station in the process direction.
 2. The imaging architecture according to claim 1, wherein the first media transport module is configured and operative to invert the substrate media around an axis transverse to the process direction.
 3. The imaging architecture according to claim 1, wherein the second media transport module is configured and operative to invert the orientation of the substrate media without interrupting the conveyance of the substrate media in the process direction.
 4. The imaging architecture according to claim 3, wherein the second media transport module is configured and operative to invert the substrate media around an axis transverse to the process direction.
 5. The imaging architecture according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first imaging station and the second imaging station comprises a direct marking technology to mark the substrate media with a respective first or second image.
 6. The imaging architecture according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first imaging station and the second imaging station comprises a plurality of imaging engines, each of the plurality of imaging engines being configured and operative to mark the substrate media according to a predetermined characteristic.
 7. The imaging architecture according to claim 1, wherein the first media transport module is configured and operative to apply a hold down force sufficient to hold the substrate media against the first media transport module, and to release the inverted substrate media at a predetermined position of the substrate media.
 8. The imaging architecture according to claim 7, wherein the first media transport module is configured and operative to effect a localized interruption of the hold down force to release the inverted substrate media.
 9. The imaging architecture according to claim 1, further comprising a barrier near or against the first media transport module, operative to separate the substrate media from the first media transport module.
 10. The imaging architecture according to claim 9, wherein the barrier comprises a knife edge positioned to come between the substrate media and the first media transport module.
 11. The imaging architecture according to claim 1, further comprising a fluid nozzle configured and operative to direct a flow of fluid towards the first media transport module that is sufficient to separate the substrate media from the first media transport module.
 12. The imaging architecture according to claim 1, further comprising at least one image treatment station positioned downstream in the process path from the first or second imaging station, the image treatment station operative to apply a treatment to the substrate media to affix the first or second image thereto.
 13. A method of duplex printing comprising: conveying, with a first media transport module, a substrate media through an imaging architecture in a process direction along which the substrate media passes through the imaging architecture, in proximity with a first imaging station operative to mark a first side of the substrate media with a first image; inverting the orientation of the substrate media without interrupting the conveyance of the substrate media in the process direction; and conveying the inverted substrate in proximity with a second imaging station operative to mark a second side of the substrate media opposing the first side with a second image.
 14. The method of duplex printing according to claim 13, further comprising: inverting the orientation of the substrate media around an axis substantially transverse to the process direction.
 15. The method of duplex printing according to claim 13, further comprising: holding the substrate media to the first media transport module.
 16. The method of duplex printing according to claim 15, further comprising: releasing the inverted substrate media from the first media transport module and conveying the inverted substrate media to a second media transport module for conveyance in proximity with the second imaging station.
 17. The method of duplex printing according to claim 16, further comprising: holding the substrate media is held to the first media transport module by one or more or a vacuum force and an electrostatic force, and releasing the inverted substrate media by interrupting a force holding the substrate media to the first media transport module at a predetermined position of the substrate media.
 18. The method of duplex printing according to claim 16, further comprising: releasing the substrate media from the first media transport module with a physical barrier imposed between the substrate media and the first media transport.
 19. The method of duplex printing according to claim 18, wherein the physical barrier has a substantially knife edge presented at the interface of the substrate media and the first media transport module.
 20. The method of duplex printing according to claim 16, further comprising: directing a flow of fluid towards the first media transport module that is sufficient to separate the substrate media from the first media transport module.
 21. The method of duplex printing according to claim 13, further comprising: inverting the inverted substrate media following its transport in proximity with the second imaging station.
 22. The method of duplex printing according to claim 21, further comprising: inverting the inverted substrate media around an axis substantially transverse to the process direction.
 23. The method of duplex printing according to claim 21, further comprising: inverting the inverted substrate media without interrupting the conveyance of the substrate media in the process direction.
 24. The method of duplex printing according to claim 13, further comprising: applying an image treatment downstream in the process path from at least the first or second imaging station operative affix the first or second image to the substrate media. 